Looking at the Digital Thread and PLM

The concept of "digital thread" and PLM is an important consideration when it comes to the digital transformation now underway in manufacturing.

Aras offers specific insight related to these important concepts.

Aras Founder and CEO Peter Schroer focused on these concepts during his keynote address at ACE 2016. He illustrates how a digital thread differs from what is termed a "digital twin" and how PLM plays a role in tracking data, processes, decisions and results across the product lifecycle. The digital thread, he states, is important for providing the ability to trace back in time all the inputs, decisions, data involved in product development. View his remarks below.

Hear Peter Schroer talk digital thread, digital twin and PLM. (5:20)

 

Digital Thread and PLM: Read the Report

A commentary from PLM analyst firm CIMdata is another excellent resource. The paper showcases the importance of integration of product development with manufacturing via digital data— or the digital thread.

As the paper notes, techniques such as automated EBOM-MBOM transformation support the digital thread and help shorten product development timeline and improve product quality. But even at more advanced product organizations, those with a digital twin vision (complete, connected, digital definition of the product, how it functions, and how it is manufactured), there are still gaps with manual tasks across the lifecycle, especially within the transfer of information to manufacturing. The paper concludes by showcasing an innovative way to integrate Manufacturing Process Planning and PLM to create a true digital thread.

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